Sustainability at Glencore is overseen at the highest level, by our Board health, safety, environment and community and human rights (HSEC) committee. Our HSEC risk management framework provides a standardised approach to identifying, assessing and managing HSEC risks and opportunities.

Sustainability framework

Our sustainability framework is the primary vehicle for the collection and reporting of sustainability risks, opportunities and performance to inform our business strategy. Our approach to integrating sustainability throughout our business has clearly defined imperatives, objectives, priority areas and targets. It supports meeting legislative requirements, managing the catastrophic hazards associated with our business, and maintaining our societal licence to operate. We focus our approach through four pillars: health, safety, environment, and community and human rights.

Board oversight

Our Board Health, Safety, Environment and Communities (HSEC) Committee sets the strategic direction for our sustainability activities and oversees the development and implementation of our strategic health, safety, environment, community and human rights (HSEC&HR) programmes.

Risk management

At every level of the Group, our approach is one of sustainability risk management. Our sustainability risk management framework is aligned with global standards, and helps identify hazards and ways to eliminate, manage or mitigate them.

Sustainability assurance

Our sustainability assurance processes support the management’s assessment of risk and provide assurance on the key mitigation controls.

Sustainability audit programme

Our audit programme primarily focuses on assessing our management of catastrophic hazards across our business. Our Group HSEC audit function is separate from our other business functions and delivers auditing of our catastrophic hazard management on an arms-length basis. It includes internal and independent subject matter experts that follow up and verify findings.

Sustainability at independently operated joint ventures (JVs)

Independent management teams operate our non-controlled JVs. Along with our JV partners, we participate in board shareholder committees that take key strategic decisions and we use this participation to influence the independent management teams to adopt appropriate operational and governance standards that reflect those of Glencore and the other JV partners.

Regulatory engagement

We develop constructive relationships with the national, regional and local governments of our host countries, and maintain regular dialogue with them.

External standards

As we rely on the application and assurance of our own HSEC management framework, we do not insist that our assets undergo third party ISO 14001 or OHSAS 18001 certification and we do not use external certification as an indicator of performance. Some of our sites undertake third party ISO 14001 and/or OHSAS 18001 certification where there is an external requirement, or where it provides additional value to our business, customers or other stakeholders.